Alex Halow Immigration Attorney — www.k1fianceevisas.com

Processing Times

Updated on October 4, 2011.

K1 VISAS

The total time required to obtain a K1 visa depends partly on where you reside in the U.S., and partly on what country your fiancee is from. Although individual processing times can vary widely, a typical processing time for K1 visas from the date of filing through the date the fiancee receives a K1 visa is 6 - 8 months.

The processing times below cover only the first part of the K1 process, filing and approval of a K1 petition at the USCIS. If you retain me to represent you, I will provide you with an estimate for how long I think the total process will take in your particular case.

Current processing times for K1 visas are:

California Service Center:

The USCIS is reporting a five-month processing time for K1 petitions at this Service Center. However, independent data indicates the actual processing time is roughly 3 months.

Vermont Service Center:

The USCIS is reporting a five-month processing time for K1 petitions at this Service Center. However, independent data indicates the actual processing time is between 3 - 4 months.

Texas Service Center:

The USCIS is reporting a five-month processing time for K1 petitions at this Service Center. However, independent data indicates that the actual processing time is between 3 - 4months.

I-130 PETITIONS FOR SPOUSES

The total time required to obtain an immigrant visa based on an I-130 for a spouse depends partly on where you reside in the U.S., and partly on what country your fiancee is from. Although individual processing times can vary widely, a typical processing time for spousal immigration from the date of filing through the date the spouse receives their visa is 8 - 10 months.

The processing times below cover only the first part of the I-130 process, filing and approval of an I-130 petition at the USCIS. If you retain me to represent you, I will provide you with an estimate for how long I think the total process will take in your particular case.

Current processing times for I-130 Petitions are:

California Service Center:

The USCIS is reporting a five-month processing time for I-130 petitions at this Service Center. However, independent data indicates the actual processing time is roughly 3 months.

Vermont Service Center:

The USCIS is reporting a five-month processing time for -130 petitions at this Service Center. However, independent data indicates the actual processing time is roughly 2 months.

Texas Service Center:

The USCIS is reporting a five-month processing time for I-130 petitions at this Service Center. However, independent data indicates that the actual processing time is between 3 - 4 months.

K3 VISAS

As of the date this page was last updated, K3 visa petition processing is closing tracking the processing of the underlying I-130 petition. K3 visa approval is following shortly after I-130 petition approval, and most K3 visa cases are being administratively closed once they reach the National Visa Center ("NVC") based on the fact that the I-130 petition has already been approved. However, it still makes sense to file K3 visa petitions as this situation could change in the future, and there currently is no separate USCIS filing fee for K3 visa petitions.

Processing Time Estimates

Although it is impossible to guarantee a precise processing time for K1, I-130 Petition, and K3 visas, it is possible to come up with an accurate estimate by taking the USCIS processing reports and other factors mentioned above into account. I will always try to provide you with an accurate estimate of processing time at the outset of your case. I also periodically monitor the processing times at the various service centers and consulates, and I will warn you if for any reason the USCIS or relevant consulate appears to be experiencing processing delays.

The information on this web site regarding immigration, K1 fiancee visas, I-130 petitions, and K3 spouse visas is general, and cannot be substituted for legal advice.